US House passes China bills on issues from economic espionage to human rights

The US House of Representatives intensified its legislative push against Beijing on Monday, advancing a slate of China-related bills targeting industrial espionage, export controls, national security threats and alleged human rights abuses.

At the same time, lawmakers moved to deepen US ties with Taiwan and protect Falun Gong practitioners.

In a show of bipartisan consensus on China-related legislation, all bills were passed by voice vote. The bills had stalled in the Senate during the last Congress and must now win passage there, before they can head to the White House for enactment into law.

The renewed momentum comes as US-China tensions rise over tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump and the two nations’ accelerating competition for technological dominance.

The Economic Espionage Prevention Act, reintroduced in February by Representative Rich McCormick, a Georgia Republican, authorises the president to impose visa and property sanctions on foreign entities involved in thefts of trade secrets, aiding adversarial militaries or violating US export laws.

While broadly framed, the bill is aimed at Chinese firms and entities transferring sensitive technologies to countries like Russia.